Improvement in combined harrows, seeders, and rollers



diluita itut @anni die.

Josnpn vnssor, saam) sAMUEt vnssor, Je., or Jouarre, CANADA.'

Letters Patent No. 112,869, dated March 21, 1871.

IMPROVEMENT IN CQMBINED HARROWS, SEEDERS, AND ROLLERS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that we, Josera Vassor, Sr., farmer, and SAMUEL Vnssor, Jr., farmer, both of Joliette, in the county of Joliette, in the province of Quebec, in the Dominion of Canada, have invented new and useful Improvements onCombined Hai-rowing, Sewing, and Rolling-Machine; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and4 exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawing, where- Figure I represents a plan of the machine.

Figure II represents a side elevation of the machine.

Figure III' represents a detail of seed-conveyer, Ste.

Figure IV represents a detail of feed-roller, ,Sr/c.

Figure V represents a detail of grass-seed sower, Soc.

Figure VI represents a detail of stop, 86e.

Figure 'VII represents a detail of stop, 6to.

Figure VIII represents a front elevation of rollers, with parts in iront of the line A B, Fig. II, removed.

Figure 1X represents a detail of frame and harrows.

Figure X represents a section ou line C D, Fig. VIII.

Figure XI represents a detail of harrows.

Figure XII represents a detail of harrows.

This invention relates to improvements on the harrowing, sowing, and rolling-machinesnow in use, combinin g them in our machine, performing the operations equally well, if not in a superior manner, te that of the separate, and with much less time and labor;

In the drawing hereunto annexed similar letters of reference indicate like parts. n

Letter a is the frame-work of the machine of the form shown in the drawing, and the forward extremities forming the shafts b for the horses to draw it by.

0n the under side of the frame projections c are formed, serving as bearings to attach the axle c of the rollers d d to the frame, and support the hinder end ot' it at the proper height above the rollers, for the purposes hereinafter described. The rollers d d are of the usual size and construction used for the purpose.

To the outer edge of the cross-har e of the frame Scrapers e are attached, for the purpose of clearing off any earth that may adhere to the rollers as theyrevolvo.

The axle cl of the rollers is secured to the one l), and revolves with it, while the roller b is loose on the axle, for the purpose of reducing the cramp which takes place in turning the horses to draw in another direction.

The cud of the axle cl projects beyond the bearing c a sufficient distance to receive upon it a set oi'grooved pulleys, o2, and a single pulley, c3, all secured and revolving with it.

The harrowing portion of the machine is arranged and operated as follows:

At the required position in the shafts b are attached llo the cross-bar f, forming part of these. frames,

are attached, in any desired manner, the steel springs f 4, of the form shown in Figs. II, IX, XI, andXIl, l

and to the extremities ofthese springs the harrowsj"5 are secured. I

` The exact conguration and attachment of the harrows f 5 and g4 with the springs f4 and g3 is shown in Figs. XI and XII, the springs, at their ends, having a V-formed piece cut out of them t0 receive a projection, aw, formed on the top of the harrow, which is also provided with a flange, a, extending under the springs f and g, a bolt, c, attaching the two firmly together. l

lhe harrows may be made of any suitable metal, but, by-pi'eference, I use cast-iron.

lhe toe or point a is slightly advanced in front of' the body, and extends also a little lower down, as elearlyushowu in the drawing.

By the use of the steel springs f 4 and g3, should the l harrows meet with any large obstacles, they can lift up and pass over it without stopping.

The frames j"2 are two in number, each the width of the roller before which it is placed, and arepro# vided with Afive harrows, more or-` less, as required.

To the two frames 7"2 are attached, by pivots g, two other frames, g, of similar construction, but smaller in size, so that their sides are on the insides of j'2 and freely move within them.

To the cross-bar g2 of these frames another set of springs, g3, is attached, with harrows g4 at their extremities, similar to J(he liarrows f 5 above described. l In attaching all these harrows f5 and g4 they arefso arranged that no two shall follow eachother, but shall each cut a separate furrow in the ground over which they pass, at equal distances apart; but, bythe harrows f5 going in advance of those g, the furrows ont by the former are closed hy the latter, and, by the seed being dropped into the furrows opened by f5, it is at once covered up by the harrows g4, and is ready for thevrollers.

The frame a is provided with two cross-bars, g5 and g", and on these are attached two bearing-bars, g?, carrying a shaft, It, provided with two grooved pulleys,

h1; to these the chains h?, of suitable length, arcattached, while their other ends are attached one to each of the cross-bars f3; these-are for the purpose of lifting and holding np the harrows from the ground a suitable height by means of a handle, It, rotating the shaft and pulleys, and winding the chains Il? partly around the latter; and for retaining them any desired period in this position a pin, h4, at the end of the handle, is provided, hooking into a catch, h5, attached to the upper side of the cross-bar h6 ofx the frame a; when this is unhooked the harrows fall of their own weight to the ground, and those marked g4 come first to it; the pivot g allows the others to freely ind their proper position also.

To give additional weight to the harrows g, for causing them to cut deeper, suitable projections are formed on the upper side ofthe cross-bars g2, the tops of which are in such a position that the driver may cause his weight to assist iu performing this object, as will be hereinafter' more particularly described. Y

Ou the top of the frame e, and with one on each side,two hearings are formed in any suitable manner, carrying the iced or seed-distributing roller c' in' the proper position. The construction of this roller is as follows:`

It is divided transversely into alternate spaces, having recesses i? formed in them .to receive the required `amount of grain to be sown, and blanks i3; in these the plain cylindrical form of the roller remains undisturbed.

The recesses i are made in series of" larger or smaller size, suitable for various descriptionsot' grain; those marked c" are for oats, pease, and harley, &c;; those 'if' are for wheat, rye, buckwheat, 85e.; those 13'- are for corn, beans, 8vo.

' The roller i extends beyondwthe frame al to that side of the machine on which the pulleys e2 are situated, and on this extension a corresponding set of pulleys, 7c, is loosely placed, and cau/sed to rotate by any suitable belt, k1. Ou the end ofthe roller, and

. on the inside of the pulleys, a clutch is formed, the

counterpart heilig on the pulleys. This is for the purpose of causing the roller to revolve when ,the clutches are iu gear, and to remain stationary when thrown out. This is accomplished as follows:

Ou the eud of the roller il, extending beyond the pulleys, a spiral spring, lo, is so placed that it presses the clutches into gear when not held out by the end of' the level' k7. This lever is of the form shown in the drawing, and is attached to the frame a, by a pivot, 7:4; the other end of this lever' k3 is bent to come to the inside of the pulley h1. On this, and in the proper position, au inclined] project-ion, kf', is formed, so situated that when the piu lr* of the handle h3 is placed in the catch h5 the inclined projection 755 presses that end of the lever k3 next it inward, while the other ex tremity of the lever is moved outward, throwing the clutches out of gear; or, in other words, when the `harrows are lifted from the ground the roller 'i ceases to revolve, although the machine is drawn along, revolving the rollers LZ d1.

Again, upon the frame a, and in the position shown iu the drawing, the grain-box'l is placed, of the geueral form delineated; its bottom "side at the front is tted to and over the rolle'r i, with suitable openings,

lf, having inclined sides for the grain to descend into the recesses i2 formed in the 'roller i), hereinbefore der scribed.

These openings, and the various series of recesses,

' are so arranged that, by setting this seed-box to any one of the recesses i, they will match or come overv the whole of the corresponding ones, and in like manner with those i5 and i6.

This is done by an adjusting-screw, l2, or other suitable contrivance for moving the box llaterally and holding it in any required position.

To prevent the seeds entering into the recesses iz of the roller 'il being injured by being cut between the edges of the recess and the edges of the box, pieces of India rubber, t, are placed over the edge of the latter.

The box l is attached to the frame a by its back rail Z4, having slotted holes l5, through which the bolts ZG pass, attaching it to the rail e. These bolts are loosened when the box Z is to'be adjusted.

It is alsoheld in its position by angle-ironsm in front, whose bottom ends slide in the space formed by the iron straps 'ntl andthe frame a.

The number of recesses formed in the roller i will depend on the number of harrowsj"5 cutting the furrows, and, as shown in the drawing, these are ten; but, if desired, they may be increased or diminished.

The'roller t' will have, therefore, ten recesses i", ten i5, and ten is; it will also .have ten blanks i3.

When it is desired to only sow seed in part of the furrows cut by the harrows stops m2, similar to those shown in Figs. VI and VII, having any required num of a small door, m, in its end, shown in Fig. II, immediately over the openings l1, clpsing or stopping any required number of them, and leaving'the remainder open.

Ihat these stops mi may be carried with the machine when not in use a place is provided under the -inclined side of the`box l, at its back, and in that position they are shown in Fig. X.

The seed taken out of the box i, as above described, by the roller il, falls into the open upper end of the conveyingtuhes a, suitably situated for that purpose.

These tubes are ot' metal, and to their lower' ends pieces of India rubber tube Mareattached, so that if any lixed obstacle in the ground is presented to them they may give way and obviate the necessity of either removing it or injuring the tubes.

To cause the seed to he'sown at a greater' or lesser depth, the cross-bar to which the tubes a are attached may be turned by the handle n, so as to cause their ends al to come close to the harrows fs and drop the seed in immediately behind them; or they maybe depressed, moving them further hack, and giving time for a portion of the earth to fall back before the seed falls into the furrows.

The amount .of seed sown may be regulated by placing the belt k1 on the pulleys 0'* and lo, so as to cause the latter to revolve with greater or lesser speed in comparison with the revolutions of the roller d.

On the top of the box lthe seat a2 is hrmed for the driver to sit upon', and whenit is desired to cause the harrows g to act with more weight he places his feet upon the projections t, before mentioned.

The machine is also provided with another seedsowing box, altogether' separately and distinctly from that hereinabove described. This is for sowing grass andV other small seeds requiring to be sown thicker and generally over the ground-that is to say, not in furrows.

The construction and operation of this seed-box are as follows o is a box, of suitable size and form, for holding a quantity of the seed to be sown, being in length equal to the length of the two rollers d'll', and is attached, immediately in front of them, to frame a by any suitable attachments 01. The bottom of the box is pro' vided with a suitable number of openings for the seed to fall through. For the purpose of regulating this, to its under side a slide, o, is attached by a number of guides, 03, shown in Figs. V and VIII. This slide is provided with corresponding openings, o4, to those in the bottom of the box. When these are set fair together the seed has the utmost amount of opening to escape by. To render this adjustable the end of the slide oz extends upward at the end ot' the box o, connecting witha screw, o, which, while it prevents the apertures from opening more than the required amount, it will not prevent them closing, in the following manuer: To the slide 02, at any suitable point, isattached the end of a lever, o, attached in its central part to the frame a by a pivot, o7. The other extremity of the lever is brought up under the end of the lever k3, and is acted upon by the projection la, in like manner to that herein described -for the lever ber of openings mi, are placed in the box l by meansy k3. By this means, when the harrows are lifted from the ground the lever os causes the openings1 in the slide to move over the guides o3 and prevents the further escape of the seeds from the box o, To cause the flow of the seed to be steady.v an agitating-roller, j), of any suitable form, is placed in the box o, ex-

tending from one of its ends through the other a sufcient length to receive on the extended end of the roller p a pulley, p1, for rotating it by a belt, 112, from the pulley e3.

Many inventions'on similar machines have been made, most of them being provided with a roller in front for carrying the forward end ofthe machine. By my improvement oi' placing the b`ox l over the rollers d and d' this is done away with, the weight not being greater than the two horses placed in the shafts b can carry, it being well understood that the machine may be made large or small, for a greater or lesser number of horses.

Having now described the construction and operation of our invention, to which We have given the name of Vnsso'rs Combined Harrowuig, Sowing, and Rolling Machine, We beg to state that we disclaim all other forms of combined harrowing, sowing, and rolling machines now in use. 1 Vhat We claim as our invention, and Wish secured by Letters Patent, is the new and useful improvements on combined harrowing, sowing, and rolling machines, as follows:

The frame j, attached by pivots f1 to the shafts, and the frame g1, attached by pivots `g to it, with .springs f4 and g3, attaching the harrows f5 and gi1 to the cross-bars f3 and g2, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

Montreal, 29th day of October, A. D. 1870.

JOSEPH VESSOT, SENR. SAMUEL VESSOT, JUR.

Witnesses:

THOMAS RONDEAU, SEWELL GLEMENTs. 

